2026 Tour De France w/ Nana!

🇫🇷 My Tour de France Travel Log

A First-Time Experience with Nana (aka Mom), the Cycling Superfan - Barcelona, 2026

🌍 Overview

After years of following Professional Cycling, I finally saw the Tour de France in person! Sharing this experience with Nana — The Sicilian grandmother and ultimate cycling superfan — made it truly special. Nana knows the riders on every team, prints out note cards, and texts me cycling news throughout the year.

The logistics of the TDF race are mind-blowing. Imagine holding the Super Bowl 21 times in 23 days across 17 different cities — and bringing everything with you: thousands of trucks, cars, team buses, bicycles, and helicopters. It is a true logistical marvel.

🏁 Stage-by-Stage Highlights

Stage 1 — Team Time Trial**

📍 Barcelona → Barcelona

🚴 Distance:** 19.6 km

⛰️ Elevation Gain:** ~200 m

A dramatic start! The heat was blistering — I felt the blacktop melting under my feet. We witnessed incredible intensity and crashes, culminating in the finish climb up to Montjuïc.

Stage 2 — Classic Road Stage

📍 Tarragona → Barcelona

🚴 Distance:** 168.5 km

⛰️ Elevation Gain: ~2,550 m

The atmosphere was electric. We stood with fans from around the world, many rocking the iconic polka-dot King of the Mountains hats. It was a thrill to experience the race vibe in person.

Stage 3 — Mountain Stage (Pyrenees)

📍 Granollers → Les Angles*

🚴 Distance 195.9 km

⛰️ Elevation Gain ~3,950 m

A massive day in the Pyrenees. Race officials navigated a last-minute course change due to wildfires, reminding us of the raw and unpredictable nature of the race.

 🙏 Special Thanks

This trip was made possible by so many incredible people. We were truly fortunate to have the legendary Phil Liggett there, the definitive voice of the Tour, to provide his iconic commentary.

A huge thank you to Thomson Bike Tours for their impeccable planning and logistics. Our guides, Jacinta and Scotty, were absolutely fantastic—their knowledge and enthusiasm truly elevated the entire journey. We are also so grateful to the Paul Sherwen Project & Maurine for all they do to celebrate the sport we love. Thanks and love to my family (Barb, Everest & McKinley) for helping us to get there!

💛 Reflection

From Nana’s meticulous note cards to the legendary commentators and the support of our guides, this was the perfect way to celebrate our passion for cycling.

Love you, Nana!** 🚴‍♀️💛

https://vimeo.com/1211168676